When owners report problems
Across all 376,581 complaints with a mileage for the models we track, model years 2005 to 2024, here is how they spread over the odometer. Many reports come early because newer cars make up a large share of the data and because some defects show up in the first months. That does not mean high-mileage cars are trouble-free; there are simply fewer of them still being reported.
Older cars only
To see what happens as cars age, look only at model years 2008 to 2013, which have had a decade or more on the road. Of their 159,522 complaints with a mileage, 37% came before 50,000 miles, 37% between 50,000 and 100,000, and 26% after 100,000.
What to weigh besides the odometer
- Service records. Regular oil changes and fluid service on the schedule in the owner's manual matter more than an extra 20,000 miles.
- Type of miles. Long highway trips wear an engine less than many short trips in cold weather.
- Age. Rubber parts, batteries and seals age even when a car sits. A very low-mileage older car can still need work.
- The model's own record. Some model years draw many more complaints than others. Each model page shows the mileage at which its owners report problems.
- Recalls. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls for open recalls before buying.
Questions
How many miles is too many for a used car?
There is no single cutoff. Condition and maintenance matter more than the odometer alone. In NHTSA complaints for older cars (model years 2008 to 2013) that list a mileage, 26% of problems were reported after 100,000 miles, so cars clearly keep running and keep being driven well past that point.
Is 100,000 miles a lot for a car?
Less than it used to be. Many modern engines and transmissions are designed to run well beyond 100,000 miles with regular oil changes and fluid service. Around that mileage, many manuals also call for bigger maintenance items, so ask whether they were done.
What matters more than mileage?
Service records, how the car was driven (highway miles are easier on parts than short trips), rust, accident history and open recalls. A pre-purchase inspection by an independent mechanic checks what the odometer cannot.
How many miles a year is normal?
Federal Highway Administration figures put the average at roughly 13,000 to 14,000 miles a year per licensed driver. A car well above that for its age has worked harder; well below may have spent long periods parked.
Mileage is the odometer reading owners gave when filing a complaint with NHTSA (field MILES), for the 376,581 complaints that include one. NHTSA does not verify complaints. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, data through October 2026. This page is general information, not advice on a particular vehicle.